146 G. A. J. VAN DER SANDE. 



the next four objects (N os . 546 — 549, PI. XVIII, figs. 9 and 3) the crocodile's head has however 

 been applied to both ends; with N°. 546, it is true, only in a primitive form, but expérience 

 has taught me that such a long head with a broadening in front at the snout, (see also De 

 Clercq and Schmeltz [1893, PL XVIII, fig. 1, but above ail fig. 13], Von LUSCHAN (Krieger 

 1899, 484, fig. 27], BlRO [1S99, 41, N°. 9832, PL IX, figs. 9, n and 13]) means a crocodile, 

 which, in reality, has such a broadening near the nostrils (see also PL XVIII, fig. 6 b ; PL XIX, 

 fig. 9). It is further remarkable how often the crocodile is met with together with a human 

 figure. It is generally represented with its jaws catching hold of the human being in the partes 

 posteriores, as with N°. 548 (PL XVIII, fig. 9) of Nâcheibe, sometimes sitting on the top of 

 the crocodile's head (N°. 549, PI. XVIII, fig. 3 a ), sometimes in the lengthening of the tail (?) 

 (N°. 550, PL XVIII, fig. 6^). It is true, VON LUSCHAN has shown that human figures, at the 

 end of the head supports, can be interpreted as the transposed Telamones, but I fancy, that 

 a spécial, possibly a religious, combination of thought is intended hère, and this on account 

 of the fact that the représentation of the crocodile with a human being caught with the 

 mouth from behind, is met with on graves as well as on buildings for a spécial purpose. 

 Thus, both prolongations of the ridge pôle of the house of assembly at Thaë (fig. 175) are 

 carved in this manner. Xext to the opinion of VON LUSCHAN [1887, 69], that the lizard 

 (crocodile) cannot be looked upon as an intégral part of the supports, as it is wanting with several 

 spécimens, I mention the opinion of Uhle [1886, 5 and 6], who, from the fréquent joint 

 appearance of crocodile and human figures, concludes the mutual relation between both in 

 the ideas of the Papuans. Further investigation will hâve to show what is the foundation of 

 this; the same with the représentation on a support of SCHMIDT [1903, fig. 20 b ], a human 

 being sitting on the neck of an animal's head; also the meaning of the round object, which 

 this animal holds in its mouth (see also De Clercq and SCHMELTZ [1893, PL XVIII, fig. 10] 

 and BlRO [1899, PL IX, fig. 10]). 



As the crocodile is the only animal which seriously threatens the Papuan and, judging 

 by the numerous occurrence of scars, actually often catches hold of its human prey, this 

 might hâve created an adoration out of fear. I point out that with N°. 549 the lower parts of 

 the heads are provided with carved slits, representing mouths with teeth. What the dog may mean, 

 which is hère introduced on one of the heads, PL XVIII, fig. 3 b , (with N°. 547 such a figure 

 is broken oflf), is also quite obscure. This dog with its short paws and long tail, again looks 

 very much like a lizard and although according to SCHMELTZ (De CLERCQ and SCHMELTZ 

 [1893, 88, note]) the great importance of the lizard in the Malay-Polynesian popular belief 

 has been proved, such animal figures hâve been generally explained to me as dogs, sometimes 

 as crocodiles, but never as lizards. 



The collection contains three spécimens of the monoxyle type. One of thèse, N°. 552 

 (PL XVIII, fig. 7) of Mios Kôrwâr, shows the type, which occurs everywhere in Geelvink Bay 

 (EDGE PARTINGTON [1890, PL 263, N°. 2], characterised by two figures (Telamones), the rumps 

 either or not connected, which support a cymatium, for which a set of snake-like animais has been 

 substituted (see Uhle [1S86, PL VII, figs. 2 and 4]); a mouth opening and eyes are indeed 

 often found at the outer end of thèse snake-like parts, — N°. 552 has two eyes at one end. The 

 fairly permanent type of thèse head supports makes it almost impossible to accept what was 

 communicated on the spot to De Clercq (De CLERCQ and SCHMELTZ [1893, 84]) viz. that 



